Two of Gov. Bill Ritter[1]'s top staffers, chief of staff Jim Carpenter[2], and Chief Operating Officer Don Elliman[3], at the staging area as the Fourmile Canyon fire winds down. (Ritter staff picture)

Jim Carpenter, chief of staff for outgoing Gov. Bill Ritter, is cleaning out his files and came across an e-mail that shows how a good sense of humor helps in a crisis.

The e-mail included a picture of Carpenter and Chief Operating Officer Don Elliman taken at the staging area at the Fourmile Canyon Fire several days after it started. Other top staffers in the Ritter administration were invited to participate in a cutline contest.

Here’s the Top 10 list:

10) “We’re the pros from Dover.”

9) “Hey, are you gettin’ taller?”

8) “Always ready, always there.”

7) “Go ahead — make our day.”

6) “The future’s so bright I gotta wear shades.”

5) “Badges? We don’t need no stinkin’ badges!”

4) “Never too old to be hot s—.” (Stuff?)

3) “What do you mean we don’t get to go up in the helicopter?”

2) “The Men that Goats Stare At.”

And the winner is …

1) “I cannot believe he just said, ‘All of Colorado is on fire!'”

Former Gov. Bill Owens[4] in 2002 infuriated tourism officials by declaring “All of Colorado is burning today” after fires in various parts of the state burned out of control.

In Owens’ exit interview with the Rocky in 2006, he was asked, “What is the worst piece of advice you took?”

He laughed and gave this facetious answer:

When my spokesman, Dan Hopkins, said, “Why don’t you get on the front pages and say ‘All of Colorado is burning.’ ” I thought, “But it isn’t all burning,” and Dan said, “People aren’t going to notice. It seems like it’s all burning.” I said, “OK, I’ll go with your professional judgment.”

Carpenter leaves office Friday to join political consultant Mike Stratton[5]. Ritter hands over state government to Gov.-elect John Hickenlooper on Jan. 11.